Tobacco-stemming machine.



C. F. LINDH TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-26.1915.

1,188,546. Patented June 27,1916.

CHARLES F. LINDH, OF BROOKLYN, NEW'YORK, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD TOBACCO STEMMER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.', A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

TOBACCO-STEMMING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES F. LINDII, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement 1n Tobacco-Stemming Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in tobacco stemming machines. 7

In certain tobacco stemming machines there is employed an endless chain carrying a series of coacting two-part stem butt grippers traveling along stemming mechanism and adapted to hold individual leaves by the stem butts while the leaves are acted upon by the stemming mechanism. These grippers are arranged to open at the far end of the stemming mechanism. It sometimes happens that the sticky juices of a tobacco leaf exude from the stem butt and cause it-to adhere to one of the parts of a gripper at the time when the same is open and to be thereby carried back where'it interferes with an oncoming stem.

One of the objects of the present invention is the production of a device adapted to cooperate with such grippers and to positively eject stems therefrom when the grippers are open and without interfering in grippers lies outside of the present inven any Way with their movement.

A further object of the invention is the production of a device which will not only eject a stem but will'also clean the adjacent faces of the parts of the grippers; that is to say, to wipe off any stickyjuices which may be adhering thereto.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain parts, constructions andcombinations which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the'same or-like parts, Figure 1 is 'a side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmental-y sectional view taken on the 11118.

22 in Fig. 1. And Fig. 3 is a detailed end view of the brush shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In carrying the invention into elfect,there is provided a series of 'co-acting two-part continuously traveling stem butt grippers Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2'7, 1916.

Application filed March 26, 1915. Serial N 0. 17,094

said grippers being arranged to open and close 1n directions colncldent wlth their path of travel, and means adapted to pass be- In the device selected to illustrate the in-' vention, '4 indicates diagrammatically a sprocket over which runs a chain 5 carrying a plurality of co-acting two-part continuously traveling stem butt grippers 6 which are causedby mechanism well known in the art'to open to release a stem at a certain point in their path of travel, the direction of the opening and closing of thegrippers being coincident with their path of travel. The chain 5 is provided with a series of rollers 7 operating upon a track 8 supported by a main frame 9 of a stemming machine. Since the particular construction of the stemming machine and .stem butt tion,a more detailed description of the same is omitted herefrom in the interest of brevity and clear-ness. "It may be here remarked, I

however, that they are well known in the illustrate the invention this means consists of a segmental spiralbrush 10 clamped, by means of a screw 11,upon one end of a shaft 12 journaled ina bracket 13 suitably supported from the main frame 9. On the other end of the shaft 12 is fixed a bevel gear 14 which is in mesh with a second bevel gear 15, said second bevel gear being fast upon theupper end of a shaft 16 journaled inthe bracket 13 before referred to. The lower end of the shaft 16 is provided with a sprocket 17 over which runs a chain, not shown, but which derives its motion from any suitable moving part of a stemming machine. l

The stem butt grippers travel continuously and the segmental spiral brush 1'0- tates continuously in a fixed positlon. The

- pitch of the spiral is, however, designed to conform to the traveling movement of the stem butt grippers and it is segmental and running idle about one-half of each revolution. During this time, one of the stem butt grippers advances to position to be opened and to have the adjacent faces of its two parts engaged by the brush 10 while so open and while traveling forward. In the event of a stem butt adhering to either of the two parts of a gripper, the leading edge of the spiral or the bristles of the brush carried thereby, will engage the butt and eject it sidewise from the gripper. At the same time, the ends of the bristles of the brush come into contact, the one with the face of one part of a gripper and the other with the .face of the other part of the gripper; so

that the rotating brush not only ejects a stem butt from a gripper, but performs the further function of cleaning the adjacent faces of the parts of said gripper.

Changes and variations may be made in the structure by means of which the invention is carried into effect. The invention therefore is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described. Furthermore, certain parts of the invention are capable of use independent of other parts and such independent use is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with a series of co-acting twopart continuously traveling stem butt grippers said grippers being arranged to open and close in directions coincident with their path of travel, of means adapted to pass be tween adjacent faces of the parts of said grippers while open to eject a stem butt sidewise therefrom.

2. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with a series of co-acting two-part continuously traveling stem butt grippers said grippers being arranged to open and close in directions coincident with their path of travel, of means operative in a fixed position and adapted to pass between adjacent faces of the parts of said grippers while open to eject a stem butt sidewise therefrom.

3. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with a series of co-acting two-part continuously traveling stem butt grippers said grippers being arranged to open and close in directions coincident with their path of travel, of rotatory means operative in a fixed position and adapted to pass between adjacent faces of the parts of said grippers while open to eject a stem butt sidewise therefrom.

4. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with a series of co-acting twopart continuously traveling stem butt-grip pers said grippers being arranged to open and close in directions coincident with their path of travel, of a brush adapted to pass between adjacent faces of the parts of said grippers while open to eject a stem butt sidewise therefrom.

5. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with a series of co-acting twopart continuously traveling stem butt grip pers said grippers being arranged to open and close in directions coincident with their path of travel, of a segmental spiral brush adapted to pass between adjacent faces of the parts of said grippers while open to eject a stem butt sidewise therefrom.

6. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with a series of co-acting twopart continuously traveling stem butt grippers said grippers being arranged to open and close in directions coincident with their path of travel, of a segmental spiral brush rotative in a fixed position and adapted to pass between adjacent faces of the parts of said grippers while open to eject a stem butt sidewise therefrom.

7. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with a series ofrco-acting twopart continuously traveling stem butt grippers said grippers being arranged to open and close in directions coincident with their path of travel, of means engaging the adj acent faces of the parts of said grippers while open and adapted to clean said adjacent faces.

8. In a tobacco stemming machine, the

combination with a series of co-acting two-' part continuously traveling stem butt grippers said grippers being arranged to open and close in directions coincident with their path of travel, of means operative in a fixed position for engaging the adjacent faces of the parts of said grippers while open and adapted to clean said adjacent faces.

9. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with a series of co-acting twopart continuously traveling stem butt grippers said grippers being arranged to open and close in directions coincident with their path of travel, of rotatory means operative in a fixed position for engaging the adjacent faces of the p arts of said grippers while open and adapted to clean said adjacent parts.

10. In a. tobacco stemming machine, the combination with a series of co-acting twopart continuously traveling stem butt grippers said grippers being arranged to open and close in directions coincident with their path of travel, of a brush engaging the adjacent faces of the parts of said grippers while open and adapted to clean said adjacent faces.

11. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with a series of co-acting twopart continuously traveling stem, butt grippers said grippers being arranged to open and close in directions coincident with their path of travel, of a segmental spiral brush engaging the adjacent faces of the parts of said grippers while open and adapted to clean said adjacent faces.

12. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with a series of co-acting twopart continuously traveling stem butt grippers said grippers being arranged to open and close in directions coincident with their path of travel, of a segmental spiral brush rotative in a fixed position for engaging the adjacent faces of the parts of said grippers while open and adapted to clean said adjacent faces.

13. In a tobacco stemming machine, the

combination with a series of co-acting 'two-' part continuously traveling stem butt grip pers said grippers being arranged to open and close in directions coincident with their path of travel, of means adapted to pass between and engage adjacent faces of the parts of said grippers while open to eject a stem butt sidewise therefrom and to clean said adjacent faces. 7

14. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with a series of co-acting twopart continuously traveling stem butt grippers said grippers being arranged to open and close in directions coincident with their path of travel, of means operative in a fixed position and adapted to pass between and engage adjacent faces of the parts of said grippers while open to eject a stem butt sidewise therefrom and to clean said adjacent faces.

15. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with a series of co-acting twopart continuously traveling stem butt grippers said grippers being arranged to open and close in directions coincident with their path of travel, of rotatory means operative in a fixed position and adapted to pass between and engage adjacent faces of the parts of said grippers while open to eject a stem butt sidewise therefrom and to clean said adjacent faces.

16. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with a series of co-acting twopart continuously traveling stem butt grip pers said grippers being arranged to open and close in directions coincident with their path of travel, of a brush adapted to pass between and engage adjacent faces of the parts of said grippers While open to eject a stem butt sidewise therefrom and to clean said adjacent faces.

17. In a tobacco stemming machine, the combination with a series of co-acting two part continuously traveling stem butt grippers said grippers being arranged to open and close in directions coincident with their path of travel, of a segmental spiral brush adapted to pass betweenand engage adjacent faces of the parts of said grippers while open to eject a stem butt sidewise therefrom and to clean said adjacent faces.

18. In a tobacco stemming machine, the

combination witha series of co-acting twopart continuously traveling stem butt grippers said grippers being arranged to open and close in directions coincident with their path oftravel, of a segmental spiral brushrotative in a fixed position and adapted to pass between and engage adjacent faces of the parts of said grippers while open to eject a stem butt sidewise therefrom and to clean said adjacent faces.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. 7

CHARLES F. LINDH.

Witnesses:

JAMES A. MoCANN, SYDNEY J. Pnnsoo'r'r.

700910: at this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G." 

